Search This Blog

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Writer vs. Source: When Can you Be Both?

Regular readers of this blog know that I often
suggest that new writers start off pitching ideas that they already have some
personal experience or background knowledge of. Demonstrating that you’re, as I
say, “uniquely qualified,” to write a particular article or blog post boosts
your chances of getting an assignment.

Sometimes you may want
to demonstrate this experience by using a first-person lead or personal
anecdote in the article itself. But when is it appropriate to insert yourself
into a story, and when should remain a reporter alone? In other words, when
you’re writing a piece, when should you play both writer and source?

With
some types of writing, it’s pro forma to share your experiences with your
readers. Take a personal memoir or essay, where the piece itself springs from
something that’s happened to you. But for a reported article, inserting yourself may be unnecessary at best, distracting
at worst.

That's why many editors don't want a writer to use first-person anecdotes or references. If you're not sure whether to share your own experience in a piece, I suggest you do the following:

Consider its impact. In some instances,
a first-person anecdote may not work for a particular story. For example, when
I wrote about how to avoid employment discrimination claims for a small
business magazine, I chose to use real business owners as anecdotes. Yes, I was
a lawyer in my former life and had defended these kinds of claims, but I felt
that my experience might overshadow the article.

Consider
your duty as a writer. Each of us has our own prejudices,
experiences, and biases. If I were to write an article on the pros and cons on
having an open adoption, ethically I should disclose the fact that I happen to
be a parent who has open adoptions with several of her children’s birth
parents. Can I write an objective piece about this subject? Certainly, but I
think I would have to reveal my own experience in the piece.

Keep your standards high. Using your own
experience in an article is no substitute for conducting research. A common rookie mistake by new freelancers is thinking that because they know something about the subject, they don't need to call on experts or other sources for the story. I suggest you err on the side of over-researching, even if you plan to include a first-person anecdote. That will help you write a balanced piece.

Bottom
line? Inserting yourself into a piece isn’t appropriate for every piece you
write. But judiciously sharing your own experiences can make your work more
compelling, relatable, and marketable.

***Readers, what do you think? Do you use first-person anecdotes or do you avoid them, and why? I welcome your comments.